STAFF REPORT ACTION REQUIRED Intention to Designate under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act and Authority to Enter into a Heritage Easement Agreement – 111 St. Clair Avenue West Date: August 18, 2011 Toronto Preservation Board To: Toronto and East York Community Council From: Acting Director, Policy & Research, City Planning Division Wards: St. Paul's – Ward 22 Reference P:\2011\Cluster B\PLN\HPS\TEYCC\September 12 2011\teHPS13 Number: SUMMARY This report recommends that City Council state its intention to designate the property at 111 St. Clair Avenue West (Imperial Oil Building) under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act and to authorize the entering into of a Heritage Easement Agreement between the City and the property owners. The property at 111 St. Clair Avenue West, which is located on the south side of the street, east of Avenue Road, contains the former headquarters of the Imperial Oil Company (now Imperial Oil Limited). City Council listed the site on the City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties in February 2005. The property is the subject of a development application that proposes to convert the former office building for use as a residential condominium. The proposal retains the heritage building and involves minor alterations to the rooftop penthouse and window openings. The property owners have agreed to the designation of the site under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act and to enter into a Heritage Easement Agreement with the City of Toronto. Staff Action Report – Intention to Designate and HEA- 111 St. Clair Avenue West 1 RECOMMENDATIONS The City Planning Division recommends that: 1. City Council state its intention to designate the property at 111 St. Clair Avenue West (Imperial Oil Building) under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act. 2. If there are no objections to the designation in accordance with Section 29(6) of the Ontario Heritage Act, City Council authorize the City Solicitor to introduce the bills in Council designating the property under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act. 3. If there are objections in accordance with Section 29(7) of the Ontario Heritage Act, City Council direct the City Clerk to refer the designation to the Conservation Review Board. 4. If the designation is referred to the Conservation Review Board, City Council authorize the City Solicitor and appropriate staff to attend any hearing held by the Conservation Review Board in support of Council's decision on the designation of the property. 5. City Council grant authority for the execution of a Heritage Easement Agreement under Section 37 of the Ontario Heritage Act with the owners of the property at 111 St. Clair Avenue West for the property at 111 St. Clair Avenue West. 6. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to introduce the necessary Bill in Council authorizing the entering into of the Heritage Easement Agreement. Financial Impact There are no financial implications resulting from the adoption of this report. ISSUE BACKGROUND City Council included the property at 111 St. Clair Avenue West on the City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties in February 2005. The site contains the Imperial Oil Building, the former headquarters of the Canadian company, which is being converted from an office building to a residential condominium. The property owners have agreed to the designation of the property under the Ontario Heritage Act and to enter into a Heritage Easement Agreement with the City. COMMENTS Staff have completed a Heritage Property Research and Evaluation Report for the property at 111 St. Clair Avenue West, which is appended as Attachment No. 4. As a result of this assessment, staff have determined that the property meets Ontario Staff Action Report – Intention to Designate and HEA- 111 St. Clair Avenue West 2 Regulation 9/06, the criteria prescribed for municipal designation. A location map (Attachment No. 1) and photographs (Attachment No. 2) are attached. The Reasons for Designation (Statement of Significance) are found in Attachment No. 3 The property at 111 St. Clair Avenue West is worthy of designation under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act for its cultural heritage value, and meets the provincial criteria for municipal designation under the three categories of design, associative and contextual values. Located on the south side of St. Clair Avenue West, east of Avenue Road, the Imperial Oil Building (1957) is a representative example of a building designed for corporate offices in the Modern style by the Toronto architectural firm of Mathers and Haldenby, with distinctive interior murals by Canadian artist R. York Wilson, and a local landmark in the Deer Park neighbourhood. The Reasons for Designation (Statement of Significance), which is the public Notice of Intention to Designate, will be advertised on the City of Toronto's web site in accordance with the City of Toronto Act provisions and served on the owners of 111 St. Clair Avenue West and the Ontario Heritage Trust according to the provisions of the Ontario Heritage Act. CONTACT Mary L. MacDonald, Acting Manager Heritage Preservation Services Tel: 416-338-1079 Fax: 416-392-1973 E-mail: [email protected] SIGNATURE _______________________________ Kerri A. Voumvakis, Acting Director Policy and Research City Planning Division ATTACHMENTS Attachment No. 1 – Location Map Attachment No. 2 – Photographs Attachment No. 3 – Reasons for Designation (Statement of Significance) Attachment No. 3 – Heritage Property Research and Evaluation Report Staff Action Report – Intention to Designate and HEA- 111 St. Clair Avenue West 3 LOCATION MAP: 111 ST. CLAIR AVENUE WEST ATTACHMENT NO. 1 This location map is for information purposes only; the exact boundaries of the property are not shown. The arrow marks the location of the property at 111 St. Clair Avenue West. Staff Action Report – Intention to Designate and HEA- 111 St. Clair Avenue West 4 PHOTOGRAPHS: 111 ST. CLAIR AVENUE WEST ATTACHMENT NO. 2 Imperial Oil Building, showing the principal (north) façade on St. Clair Avenue West (right) and the east elevation (left) Staff Action Report – Intention to Designate and HEA- 111 St. Clair Avenue West 5 REASONS FOR DESIGNATION: 111 ST. CLAIR AVENUE WEST ATTACHMENT NO. 3 (STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE) PAGE 1 OF 2 Imperial Oil Building Description The property at 111 St. Clair Avenue West is worth of designation under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act for its cultural heritage value, and meets the criteria for municipal designation prescribed by the Province of Ontario under the three categories of design, associative and contextual value. Located on the south side of St. Clair Avenue West, east of Avenue Road, the Imperial Oil Building (1957) is a 19-storey office building. The site was listed on the City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties in 2005. Statement of Cultural Heritage Value The Imperial Oil Building has design value as an early and representative example of an office building that displays styling from the post-World War II period when the Modern Movement in architecture was gaining popularity in Toronto. Inspired by a proposal for New City Hall, its well-crafted design is distinguished by the distinctive treatment of the base, tower and penthouse and the attention to detailing in the entrance lobby, with the materials and the incorporation of thematic murals. The Imperial Oil Building demonstrates technical achievement as the largest all-welded steel-frame building in the world at the time of its construction when it also introduced technology for temperature control and communications that was advanced for the era. The property at 111 St. Clair Avenue West is associated with the Imperial Oil Company (now Imperial Oil Limited), one of Canada’s iconic businesses that developed from small-scale refining firms in western Ontario to an international conglomerate specializing in oil exploration and production. The Imperial Oil Building served as the company’s corporate headquarters for nearly half a century (1957-2005). The Imperial Oil Building represents the work of leading Toronto architects and artists. Its architectural design was created by the notable Toronto firm of Mathers and Haldenby. While the partnership was best known for its high profile projects for Toronto General Hospital (now part of the University Health Network) and the University of Toronto’s St. George Campus, Mathers and Haldenby also designed prestigious commercial buildings, from the Canada Permanent Building (1929, in partnership) at 320 Bay Street to the former Globe and Mail headquarters (1937, now demolished) near King and Bay Streets, with the Imperial Oil Building as an example of the firm’s post-World War II interpretation of Modernism. In the lobby, the important Canadian artist, R. York Wilson designed and executed the two monumental murals depicting “The Story of Oil.” An internationally acclaimed artist who was known for his paintings, tapestries and collages, in Canada, Wilson is best recognized for his mural projects, including “The Staff Action Report – Intention to Designate and HEA- 111 St. Clair Avenue West 6 111 St. Clair Avenue West Page 2 of 2 Seven Lively Arts” at the O’Keefe Centre for the Performing Arts (now known as the Sony Centre) and his commission for the Imperial Oil Building. Contextually, the Imperial Oil Building is a landmark on St. Clair Avenue West where, with its height and setting overlooking the escarpment, it is visible from many vantage